Systems and methods for securing a firearm in a holster using a magnetic locking assembly

ABSTRACT

An arrangement for magnetically locking a firearm into a holster to prevent unwanted draws of the weapon is provided. The present disclosure provides an arrangement for a locking body which locks a firearm into a holster through the use of magnetic force. The user of the firearm may overcome the magnetic force, therefore unlocking the firearm to be drawn from the holster, by applying a force to a lever arm which raises the locking body away from the firearm.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The disclosure claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 63/257,636, filed Oct. 20, 2021, which is hereby incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

FIELD

The disclosure generally relates to firearms and more particularly relates to systems and methods for removably locking a firearm (e.g., a handgun) or the like in a holster using a magnetic locking assembly.

BACKGROUND

Wide varieties of safety devices exist to inhibit withdrawal of a firearm from a holster by anyone other than the user. What is desirable is an improved locking device that is safe and allows for rapid withdrawal of a firearm when necessary but greatly reduces the likelihood of accidental or unauthorized movement of the firearm.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a magnetic locking system with a firearm inserted into a holster in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 1 in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional side view of a magnetic locking system and a firearm in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 4 is an elevated perspective of a magnetic locking system in accordance with one or more embodiments.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method to insert and then remove a firearm from a holster having a magnetic locking device in accordance with one or more embodiments.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The disclosure is directed to systems and methods for magnetically locking a firearm into a holster to prevent any unwanted removal of the firearm while still allowing the user to quickly draw the firearm when intended.

In one or more embodiments, the disclosure provides for an apparatus for removably locking a firearm in a holster using a magnetic locking assembly. In some instances, the holster may include a lever arm and a locking body rotatably attached to the holster via a pin joint. In some instances, the locking body includes a magnet configured to hold the locking body in a locked position while a ferromagnetic portion of a firearm is inserted into the holster. In this manner, the magnet and the ferromagnetic portion of the firearm may form a magnetic connection, which may maintain the locking body in the locked position. The lever arm may be configured to move the locking body from the locked position to an unlocked position when activated by an applied force from the user, which may overcome the magnetic force between the magnet and the ferromagnetic portion of the fireman, allowing the firearm to be removed from the holster.

One embodiment of the present disclosure is a system for removably locking a firearm into a holster. When the firearm is inserted into the system, the locking body slides along the firearm until a catch in the locking body reaches a feature on the firearm, such as an ejection port, where the magnet on the locking body is attracted to a ferromagnetic portion (e.g., the slide) of the firearm, which causes the catch to fall into the ejection port by providing a magnetic force between the ferromagnetic firearm and the locking body. Once the catch is inside the ejection port, or other suitable feature of the firearm such a slide stop notch or one of the sights, the catch abuts against an opposite surface of the firearm feature locking the firearm in place and preventing the firearm from being removed from the holster.

The user may then apply a force to the lever arm, moving the lever arm about a pivot connection to the holster. The movement of the lever arm about the pivot connection may move the locking body, and therefore the catch, in a direction opposite the pull of the magnetic force, which may disengage the catch from, for example, the ejection port of the firearm. Once the locking body has been lifted a suitable amount, the catch will be raised so that it no longer abuts the opposite surface of the firearm feature, allowing the firearm to be drawn from the holster.

Turning now to the drawings, FIG. 1 depicts a side view of a magnetic locking system disposed within a holster 103 in the locked position with the firearm 118. The holster 103 may include a closed end and an open end. The firearm 118 may be inserted and removed from the holster 103 via the open end. The holster 103 may be any suitable size, shape, or configuration to accommodate a variety of firearms, which may or may not include one or more accessories (e.g., sights, etc.) attached thereto.

FIG. 2 depicts a side view of a magnetic locking device 101 disposed about the firearm 118. The magnetic locking device 101 is a firearm locking mechanism that may be disposed within the holster 103 to prevent the removal of the firearm 118 positioned within the holster 103. The magnetic locking device 101 utilized one or more magnets to removably secure the firearm 118 within the holster 103.

As depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2 , the magnetic locking device 101 may include a lever arm 100, a locking body 102, a pivot connection 104 connecting each of the lever arm and locking body 102 to the holster 103, and a magnet 130 disposed upon the locking body 102. In one embodiment, the lever arm 100 and locking body 102 rotate concentrically about the pivot connection 104 on one or both sides of the holster cavity 105, resulting in a rotation around the same axis for both the locking body 102 and lever arm 100. During the rotation, the locking body 102 and lever arm 100 about the pivot connection 104. A magnet 130 disposed on the locking body 102 is configured to maintain the locking body 102 in a locked orientation when the firearm 118 is disposed within the holster 103. In some instances, the magnet 130 may also return the locking body 102 to the locked position once the firearm 118 is removed and repositioned within the holster 103.

In some embodiments, the lever arm 100 and the locking body 102 are two separate components. For example, the lever arm 100 may be pivotally attached to the holster 103 via the pivot connection 104. Similarly, the locking body 102 may be pivotally attached to the holster 103 via the pivot connection 104. The locking body 102 may include a channel and a notch 108. The forward portion 110 of the lever arm 100 includes a lip 112 configured to rotate about the pivot connection 104 within the channel and engage the notch 108 of the locking body 102 when the rearward end 114 of the lever arm 100 is depressed by a user with force F_(a). For example, as the lever arm 100 is rotated counterclockwise, as indicated above by arrow 116, the lip 112 pushes against the notch 108, which causes the locking body 102 to rotate counterclockwise and disengage from the firearm 118.

One skilled in the art would understand that the lever arm and locking body may still function properly if they were located on separate pivot connections connected to the holster in separate locations as long as the rotation of the lever arm forced the locking body to move away from the firearm in a direction opposing the force of the magnet. Another embodiment to be appreciated by those skilled in the art, as shown in FIG. 4 , would include the lever arm 400 and locking body 402 constituting a unitary, solid article 450 as long as the user could apply a force F_(a) to the lever arm 400 causing the solid article 450 to rotate in direction 416 causing the locking body portion 402 to move away from the firearm 118, disengaging the magnet 430.

FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 illustrate a magnetic locking system 101 in the locked position in accordance with one or more embodiments of the present disclosure. The locking body 102 is configured to be able to slide along a top surface 106 of the firearm 118 as the firearm is inserted into or removed from the holster 103. The top surface 106 is a ferromagnetic material that creates an attractive force with the magnet 130. This magnetic force pulls the locking body 102 flush with the top surface 106. In one embodiment, as shown here, the top surface 106 is the slide of a 9 mm handgun. In another embodiment, the top surface 106 is the top of a gun barrel such as a revolver. One skilled in the art would also recognize the possibility of having the locking body 102 slide along a surface other than the top surface of a firearm such as the side or underside of the firearm's barrel. In yet another embodiment, the magnet 130 may be disposed between the locking body 102 and the holster. The magnet 130 may also be integral to the locking body 102, or disposed between the locking body and slide.

FIG. 3 illustrates another embodiment of a magnetic locking system 101 in the locked position. When a firearm 118 is inserted into the holster cavity 105, an internally sloped portion 120 of the locking body 102 raises as it rides the length of the top surface 106. In such instances, the locking body 102 rotates clockwise, but the lever arm 100 does not move. When the ejection port 122 is reached, the sloped portion 120 falls into the void of the ejection port. Once inside the ejection port 122, a magnet 130 maintains the lock in the void until it is disengaged. While the sloped portion 120 is inside the ejection port 122 and the locking body 102 is fully engaged, the catch 124 abuts the ejection port surface 126 so that the firearm 118 cannot be removed from the holster 103. In another embodiment, one skilled in the art would understand that the sloped portion and catch may engage with another part of the firearm, such as a slide stop notch, the front or rear sights, a trigger guard, or any other feature of a firearm which may be engaged by the catch to prevent the firearm from being drawn from the holster. In yet another embodiment, the firearm may include a feature manufactured specifically to engage with such magnetic locking systems that would not ordinarily be included with the firearm.

To deploy the firearm 118, the user may engage the lever arm 100 away from the top surface 106 of the slide with a downward force F_(a). The force F_(a) must be great enough to overcome the magnetic force between the magnet 130 and the top surface 106. This motion creates a moment about the pivot connection 104. The moment engages the lever arm 100 onto the locking body 102. This engagement rotates the locking body 102 with the lever arm 100 about the pivot connection 104 in direction 116. Once rotated about 10 degrees (or other degrees in other embodiments) the catch 124 previously engaging the ejection port surface 126 is freed, constituting an unlocked position. Once the magnetic locking system 101 is in the unlocked position the firearm 118 can be removed. Once the firearm 118 is reinserted into the holster cavity 105 and the lever arm 100 released, the magnet 130 will return both the lever arm 100 and locking body 102 into the locked position by pulling toward the ferromagnetic slide of the firearm 118.

One skilled in the art would recognize, in another embodiment, that disengaging the catch from the ejection port surface may also be achieved by applying an upward force on the lever arm. In such an embodiment, the locking body would need to have a pivot connection located farther down the barrel of the firearm than the catch. Such upward force on the lever arm would create an upward force on the locking body, disengaging the catch from the firearm.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of a method to insert and then remove a firearm 118 from a holster 103 having a magnetic locking device 101 in accordance with one or more embodiments. Initially, at block 501, the user inserts the firearm 118 into the holster cavity 105. At block 502, the locking body 102 slides along the surface 106 of the firearm 118 until the firearm is fully inserted into the holster cavity 105. At block 503, the locking body 102 drops into the void of the ejection port 122 allowing the catch 124 to engage the surface 126 of the firearm feature constituting the locked position. At block 504, the user applies force F_(a) to the lever arm 100. At block 505, the rotation of the lever arm 100 raises the locking body 102 away from the firearm until the catch 124 disengages from the firearm, constituting the unlocked position. At block 506, the user draws the firearm 118 from the holster 103.

Although specific embodiments of the disclosure have been described, numerous other modifications and alternative embodiments are within the scope of the disclosure. For example, any of the functionality described with respect to a particular device or component may be performed by another device or component. Further, while specific device characteristics have been described, embodiments of the disclosure may relate to numerous other device characteristics. Further, although embodiments have been described in language specific to structural features and/or methodological acts, it is to be understood that the disclosure is not necessarily limited to the specific features or acts described. Rather, the specific features and acts are disclosed as illustrative forms of implementing the embodiments. Conditional language, such as, among others, “can,” “could,” “might,” or “may,” unless specifically stated otherwise, or otherwise understood within the context as used, is generally intended to convey that certain embodiments could include, while other embodiments may not include, certain features, elements, and/or steps. Thus, such conditional language is not generally intended to imply that features, elements, and/or steps are in any way required for one or more embodiments.

Those having ordinary skill in the art will recognize that numerous modifications can be made to the specific implementations described above. The implementations should not be limited to the particular limitations described. Other implementations may be possible. 

That which is claimed is:
 1. A locking device for removably locking a firearm in a holster, the locking device comprising: a lever arm moveably coupled to the holster; a locking body moveably coupled to the holster, wherein the locking body comprises a locked position and an unlocked position; and a magnet disposed on the locking body, wherein the magnet is configured to interact with the firearm to hold the locking body in the locked position, and wherein activation of the lever arm is configured disengage the magnet from the firearm to move the locking body from the locked position to the unlocked position.
 2. The locking device of claim 1, wherein the lever arm and the locking body are pivotally coupled to the holster.
 3. The locking device of claim 2, wherein the lever arm and the locking body are pivotally coupled to the holster via a pin connection.
 4. The locking device of claim 3, wherein the locking body and the lever arm independently rotate about the pivot connection.
 5. The locking device of claim 2, wherein the locking body and the lever arm are a unitary solid article.
 6. The locking device of claim 5, wherein the locking body and the lever arm rotate in the same direction.
 7. The locking device of claim 1, wherein, while in the locked position, a catch on the locking body is configured to engage an ejection port of the firearm.
 8. A holster, comprising: a lever arm moveably coupled to the holster; a locking body moveably coupled to the holster, wherein the locking body comprises a locked position and an unlocked position; and a magnet disposed on the locking body, wherein the magnet is configured to interact with a firearm disposed in the holster to hold the locking body in the locked position, and wherein activation of the lever arm is configured disengage the magnet from the firearm to move the locking body from the locked position to the unlocked position.
 9. The holster of claim 8, wherein the lever arm and the locking body are pivotally coupled to the holster.
 10. The holster of claim 9, wherein the lever arm and the locking body are pivotally coupled to the holster via a pin connection.
 11. The holster of claim 10, wherein the locking body and the lever arm independently rotate about the pivot connection.
 12. The holster of claim 9, wherein the locking body and the lever arm are a unitary solid article.
 13. The holster of claim 12, wherein the locking body and the lever arm rotate in the same direction.
 14. The holster of claim 8, wherein, while in the locked position, a catch on the locking body is configured to engage an ejection port of the firearm.
 15. A method, comprising: moveably coupling a lever arm to a holster; moveably coupling a locking body to the holster, wherein the locking body comprises a locked position and an unlocked position; and positioning a magnet on the locking body, wherein the magnet is configured to interact with a firearm disposed in the holster to hold the locking body in the locked position, and wherein activation of the lever arm is configured disengage the magnet from the firearm to move the locking body from the locked position to the unlocked position.
 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the lever arm and the locking body are pivotally coupled to the holster.
 17. The method of claim 15, wherein the locking body and the lever arm independently rotate about the pivot connection.
 18. The method of claim 15, wherein the locking body and the lever arm are a unitary solid article.
 19. The method of claim 15, wherein the locking body and the lever arm rotate in the same direction.
 20. The method of claim 15, wherein, while in the locked position, a catch on the locking body is configured to engage an ejection port of the firearm. 